Jan 8, 2025, Sky News: School budgets squeezed by 'spiralling costs' of special educational needs provision
Schools face tight budgets next year as the "spiralling costs" of special educational needs provision and boosts to teacher salaries threaten to outstrip the growth in school funding.
Pupil numbers are expected to fall by 2% between 2025 and 2027 - and a saving of £1.2bn could be made every year by freezing spending per child in real terms.
But the Institute For Fiscal Studies (IFS) has said state school funding per pupil in England will not cover both special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) provision requirements and a rise in teacher pay of 2.8% from September 2025.
Funding in sixth form colleges remains well below 2010 levels, while the number of young people in colleges and sixth forms is expected to grow by 60,000 by 2028, the report said.
Menawhile early years is set for the biggest ever increase in funding and from September 2025 children in working families will be entitled to 30 hours of funded childcare a week from nine months old.
A Department for Education spokesperson said: "One of the missions of our plan for change is to give children the best start to life.
"This was built upon the steps set out at the budget which increased school funding to almost £63.9bn in financial year 2025-26, including £1 billion [$1.2B] for children and young people with high needs.
"We are determined to fix the foundations of the education system that we inherited and will work with schools and local authorities to ensure there is a fair education funding system that directs public money to where it is needed to help children achieve and thrive."
Comments